‘Hawaii Five-0′ Season 2: More Characters, New Locales

(If you have yet to see season 1 of Hawaii Five-0, this article may contain spoilers. Read on at your own risk.)

Caught between the demographic stealing Monday Night Football, and the counter-programming of the Nathan Fillion-led hit Castle (ironically on the former home of Monday Night Football), Hawaii Five-0had its work cut out for it from the get go.

Though the show fell short of becoming the next NCISor CSI the network was looking for, H50did manage to earn a solid and loyal fan base – who will no doubt be expecting more from the show’s return this fall.

In keeping with those fans’ expectations, CBS and executive producer Peter Lenkov have big plans for theHawaii Five-0 team in season 2. With shooting expected to begin sometime in July, the series’ writers have plotted much of the second season – which will not only reconcile the dramatic cliffhanger of the first year finale, but also integrate some new cast members.

When last we saw them, the team had been essentially disassembled. Team leader Steve McGarrett (Alex O’Loughlin) was being led away in handcuffs by Chin Ho Kelly (Daniel Day Kim) – presumed guilty of murdering Governor Pat Jameson (Jean Smart). While rookie Kono Kalakaua (Grace Park) was being investigated by internal affairs for her role in some $200,000 that went missing from an asset forfeiture locker earlier in the season – leaving Danno Williams (Scott Caan) the only member of the team capable of clearing McGarrett’s name – at great cost to his personal life.

Lenkov admits the cliffhanger he wrote with Paul Zbsyzewki (Lost), which ended season 1, was done to create a seamless transition into the season 2 premiere.

“…we were writing the finale, and also writing the first episode of Season 2 at almost the same time. In order to put [characters] in those kinds of situations, you have to know the endgame. You can’t just put it in and then paint yourself into a corner and think, ‘How do I get them out?’ But we had all these really strong ideas of what we wanted to do in Season 2, and a lot of it is based on how we leave them at the end of Season 1.”

Without the team together, there isn’t much of a show. Lenkov assures fans that the kind of conflict season 1 ended on can be entertaining (for a short while), but achieving some semblance of normalcy will be the main goal – at least for the first episode.

“There is a resolution at the end of [the first episode], but we still keep a big part of it open. So the team is sort of back together, not really. There are some dynamics that have changed in how they’re going to move forward. There’s also a new governor who’s not going to be as lenient as the last governor, because the last governor had an agenda.”

Obviously a new governor will be sworn in, and have the ability to directly oversee the Five-0 team. While we don’t yet know who will fill the role, Lenkov did let slip some details about the character – and why he or she will create a much different dynamic for Steve McGarrett and his team.

“The last governor gave them full immunity and means, but that was just because she wanted to make McGarrett happy, and she was keeping an eye on him. I think the new governor is sort of more realistic and is going to draw the line — he may give them jurisdiction, but maybe not the immunity and means they had last season. The idea is maybe he’s going to be a little more strict with them.”

That means no more taping grenades to pawn shop doors like in the episode ‘Powa Maka Mona’.

Masi Oka as Dr. Max Bergman

The upheaval stemming from the events of season 1 won’t be the only thing Hawaii Five-0 focuses on in the upcoming season, Lenkov warns. Unlike other CBS shows, the primary Hawaii Five-0 cast will return entirely – and make a few additions.

“…we’re adding another [member] to this task force. And I’m really excited because there are some major surprises — there’s one in the first episode of the season that I’m hoping is as shocking as the governor being bad. We think it is, but we’re hoping it’s amazing, ‘oh my god, I can’t believe they did that.’ So I’m looking forward to that.”

There is a list of usual suspects, involved briefly during the first season, who seem to be a shoe-in for the new member on the task force – Masi Oka (Heroes) and Larisa Oleynik (Mad Men, Psych) immediately come to mind.

In May, it was announced that guest star Masi Oka was going to be promoted to series regular. Oka will continue to play Dr. Max Bergman, the socially awkward coroner who assisted the team a few times last year. Oka and his character seem like a great fit because what is a CBS cop drama without a quirky coroner to help break up some tension? However, that doesn’t necessarily mean Bergman is the new member of the task force Lenkov was talking about.

Late in the season, McGarrett found himself reluctantly (at first) teaming up with Jenna Kaye (Larisa Oleynik) – who also had a score to settle with Wo Fat (Mark Dacascos). At season’s end, Kaye appeared to have an unofficial role on the team. Will her place be more permanent come season 2, or does Lenkov have a completely new character in mind?

Will Jenna Kaye (Larisa Oleynik) be the new team member in season 2?

Fans may worry that the addition of a new member means less time for the expansion of those with already established, but perhaps underdeveloped, characters. One aspect many thought was missing in season 1 was a good solid storyline for Grace Park. Having had so many amazing episodes of Battlestar Galacticarevolve directly around her, being relegated to acting as bait or hacking an ATM security camera seemed to shortchange the actress a bit.

In season 2, Park’s role will increase almost immediately. Lenkov says:

“…we have a really great arc for Kono that starts at the beginning of the year, which we’re excited about because it really gives her a lot of meat.”

Finally, along with the additions and changes to the status quo, the Hawaii Five-0 team will expand their area of influence.

“…we wanted to explore the other islands, and I think we just never got the chance. We’re going to do that this year. We have these little ambitions, and that’s one of them. Because it’s Hawaii Five-0 and not Oahu Five-0, they can go to the other islands. And ultimately we want to explore off the islands. It’s a task force, and the idea is there are no real boundaries for them.”

It’s hard to say if all these changes and additions will result in a better Hawaii Five-0. But with a show like this, more might just work out for the better.

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Hawaii Five-0 returns to its regular time, Mondays @10pm on CBS this fall.

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neal4 years ago

Hi from England ! Its great,a fun TV show! Having been to Hawaii, it show’s it off brilliantly, it will double the tourest’s there…….Bring on series II !

Cant understand the bitchiness, If you dont like it don’t watch it, I like both Castle and hawaii five o. Watched original & liked it but this is a modern update and is not that bad. Give it a chance, series 1 is only there to establish characters, main plot a bit weak but give second series the benefit and hope it delivers.Can’t wait for second series, any idea when it starts?

in my opinion hawaii five o is a sort of die hard tv show in primary and csi in secondary.at first i thought it had no plot and was turning into a train wreck but turning towards ep 15 on the plot did tun kind of interesting and i found myself seeing if theyd gotton a new season contract but also it cant be turned into a lost where they drag it on on and on and onnnnnnnnn

the people who say the shows sucks just aren’t in to it. You have to really get in to it to enjoy it. If you follow the storyline and give a crap about what happens to characters. You’ll really enjoy it.

In my opinion five o is a fantastic show. it is action packed, drama filled and just plain awesome. Just the look on Steve’s face when he looked at Kono and then got his mug-shot taken in the latest episode was a great shot. Alex kurtzmen and roberto orci or whoever writes Five o are the kings of cliffhangers. one last note i cant believe that in the end of the latest episode that all the members lives got screwed up. Steve is thought to have shot the governor, Kono was arrested, danny got his ex-wife pregnant, and chin was a traitor and arrested steve. and didn’t listen to him.

and I think that special agent kaye should join the team and help get Wo Fat

Great show; I love it. The original was good at that time, except I personally couldn’t stand Jack Lord, but love the new McGarrett. I lived in Hawaii 27 years and the scenes in this new 5-0 are more accurate and true to life than the old one, which I believe was primarilly filmed in LA.

Tax Lady, what is wrong with you? The original series was filmed in Hawaii, not LA. If you lived in Hawaii, you would know that. The new one is more true to life? So when you lived in Hawaii, cops walked around dressed like slobs with bullet-proof vests, beet up suspects, dumped them in shark cages, and were given full immunity from the governor? There was nothing wrong with Jack Lord. If you couldn’t stand him, you missed out.

Well the readers of Hawaii magazine voted in their thousands and they voted the new HFO the best show shot in Hawaii and it beat the old one by a wide margin. Even the magazine said they were surprised as they thought it would be close and it wasn’t. The new show is great and I think Alex is great as McGarrett. He’s a different McGarrett not the same. he doesn’t have to wear a suit and be all stiff upper lip. That was then this is now.

So what? You don’t know who did the voting. It might have been people voting more than once. That’s doesn’t mean it’s a better show. And enough with the, “that was then, this is now,” comments. Alex’s portrayal of McGarrett isn’t a good representation of law enforcement officals in today’s world.

Is there a link to this article, or are you talking about the Facebook poll? All I found was last year’s poll which had the original Hawaii Five-O at #2, and Magnum P.I. at #1. Keep in mind that many of the voters may never have seen the original, and are voting based on only having seen the new one.

Each person has his or her own opinion! If you don’t like Five-0, fair enough. There is no such thing as bad taste. Each person has a different taste, in the same way people like or dislike certain TV shows. Only a fact can be wrong, not an opinion. So everyone,please get rid of the hatred and comment intelligently.

From scotland. Love the show and love ncis both good and entertaining. I look forward too comming home after work on a sunday to watch the next episode, and ill miss it while waiting for next series. I think they all play their individual parts well and ill be watching next. Although ending was a shock i liked the govenor.

I think that show is awesome!! Love the story lines but being the good old UK i have to wait until next damm. No NCIS or CSI at the mo either aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaarrrrrrrrrrrrrrrgggggggggghhhhhhhhh what am i going to do. Alex is great and very hot too!!!

This show is GREAT!!! And all my friens here in South Arica LOVE it. I love the chemistry and unity between the team mates. Regarding his ‘stiffness’ in his other movies, ‘stiffness’ IS required in Alex’s character in this show. He is a navy seal. They don’t show emotion. They get the job done. Although I LOVE Scott, I would like to see him acting Alex’s character having NO wife and kids. Alex does not really have any emotional stuff to work with. Leave him alone. Leaders of such a team needs to be like the character Alex plays. I, for one, will like it very much if Jenna Kaye will remain on the team. She has a class of her own. Regarding the show of the 80’s, they did not have such a cool computer system as our boys have today. It will be a pitty if the teams looses it’s amunity privilege. Cops all over the world needs this privilege to bypass the corrupt legal red tape in order to effectively rid the world of crime. We need this kind of privilege in South Africa. Leave the show alone. It’s great

I sure the ratings are based on American viewership. Lots of other nations watch cbs’s show because we like them and they are entertaining. Although criticks are found everywhere, most people watch these shows for fun and entertainment. CBS should rate the whole world’s opinion for lots of the money comes from us as well.

I’m staying in shape during the off season by watching old episodes of Hawaiian Eye. They’re great too. Jack Lord sometimes acted like one of the detectives on Hawaiian Eye. A few of the episodes are based on the hard-to-find Hawaii novels of author Juanita Sheridan. Remember Poncie Ponce? Also saw Lord recently in James Bond 007 Dr No.

Jack Lord played the CIA operative Felix Leiter in the first James Bond movie in 1962, Dr. No. but then he played on a modern western Stoney Burke.

The new Hawaii 5-0 is repulsive. Jack Lord had ultimate control over his team. They were all intelligent. And now Grace Park as Kono??? The idea that she can throw around 300 pound bad guys is ludicrous!

Scott Caan is the only intelligent actor on the current show. But in the original, “Danno” would NEVER have spoken back to McGarrett! The original lasted 13 years (1968-1981) and is still shown in syndication every day. This current show will never last five years much less 13 years!

Nobody is claiming its the same as the original. Jack Lord was good in the original and the show was good for its time. If you don’t like the new one then don’t watch it, but to say that its repulsive is ridiculous. It’s the 21st century, times have changed. The new Hawaii 5-0 is not the same as the old, just the concept is. Why do people continue to compare? I agree Scott Caan is a good actor, but the others do a good job also. I hope this show lasts for a long time.

As a European, I have to say that the acting is cronically bad and the characters are not ones that you could invest in. I buy box sets on a regualr basis including the original 5 0 and I can honestly say that this is one set that I will not buy. CBS are really narrow minded cancelling shows like Cold case, Numb3rs, The Defenders. Typical from this type of TV studio.

You think CBS is bad for canceling good shows? Fox cancelled “Lie to Me” “Chicago Code”, and NBC cancelled “Law and Order: Los Angeles” and Detroit 1-8-7 was cancelled. Yet “Are you smarter than a fifth grader”, Hoarders and DWTS and American Idiot keep on and on and on and on!

I love the show and am looking forward to the new season. I was worried that Danno (Scott Caan) would be leaving the show since that was Danno’s intention at the end of the season and in the commercials for the upcoming season have yet to show Danno. As for the ridiculous shows the networks decided to keep while canceling others, I just have to say the mentality of 1. the writers, and 2. the people who find these ridiculous “reality” shows entertaining leaves something to be desired and certainly makes me question what is to become of television in the future

Well I have thoughts that will happen in the next season IF YOU DONT WANT TO NO WHAT I THINK DONT READ THIS COMMENT… thank you. Well I think that Mary (Steves sister) will be the new member of the task force. I also think Chin Ho is work within HPD to help free Steve and Kono. But of course Danno is going to stay in Hawii, because he is to happy were he is with 5o So that is what I think. XD

If Kono’s role will be improved (ie. not just eye candy), then I will definitely watch. I turned this show off a) when it was apparent that making Kono a woman was simply a novelty and b) when it was appallingly apparent that the governor was simply a tool. Two women’s roles that could have really challenged McGarrett to step up but instead, were relegated to sideline afterthoughts. Maybe the proucers/writers, etc. have learned that a strong male role doesn’t have to come at the expense of a strong female role.

The original Hawaii 5-0 and the current one are thirty years apart. Of course its not the same. I love all the actors on this show. Yes, Alex is eye candy, and I’m personally glad. But, he also has acting talent and has grown into the role. I love the chemistry between Steve and Danny, the two actors play off of each other well. If you don’t like the show then why are you looking up sites for Hawaii 5-0? As for the numbers of people watching, I find that a lot of people are watching this show, and as with all my other favorites like NCIS, Mentalist, the Goodwife, Etc., the numbers will grow as we follow the characters. I do hope that the new female being added to season 2’s team does not get together with McGarrett. I would prefer to see someone outside of the Ninja type to ground McGarrett. Two cops rarely works in real life or on TV. I would also like to see more of Chin and Kono. I hope to be watching this show for many seasons to come.

I’m a baby-boomer – and watch very little TV – but I will not miss one episode of Hawaii Five-0 – which is my all time favorite show on TV. The story lines, scripting, the intrigue and personalities should make it the number one TV show in the universe.